Hindbrain

The hindbrain is the rearmost of the three major divisions of the brain, and it is built from three parts working together: the pons, the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata (often shortened to the medulla).

Pons

The pons is made largely of fibre tracts — bundles of nerve fibres that run through it and link up different regions of the brain. Because these tracts pass information between separated brain areas, the pons acts as a bridge that keeps distant parts of the brain in communication with one another.

Cerebellum

The cerebellum has a strikingly folded, convoluted surface. These deep folds are not accidental — they greatly increase the surface area, which creates the extra room needed to pack in a far larger number of neurons than a smooth surface could hold.

With all these neurons, the cerebellum handles the fine control of movement and body position. Its main responsibilities are:

• Coordinating and maintaining posture.
• Maintaining balance and equilibrium, using information it receives from the balance organs of the inner ear (the semicircular canals) as well as from the auditory system.
• Ensuring that voluntary movements are precise and smooth rather than jerky or clumsy.

Medulla oblongata

The medulla is the lowest part of the hindbrain and is directly connected to the spinal cord, so it sits at the junction where the brain meets the cord below it. Despite its small size, it houses several vital control centres, including those that regulate:

• Respiration (the rhythm and depth of breathing).
• Cardiovascular reflexes (adjustments of the heart and blood vessels).
• Gastric secretions (the release of digestive juices in the stomach).

Because these functions are essential for survival and continue automatically, the medulla is one of the most critical regions of the entire brain. …